Exploration of Macrofungi in Sub-Tropical Semi-Evergreen Indian Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

Mushrooms have been known as additional food worldwide for their high nutritional content and medicinal importance for instance anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiviral and cardiovascular properties. Furthermore, there are several mushroom extracts that have been reported for their potential adjuvants in the radiation treatments and chemotherapy. In addition, several mushrooms contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, polyglucan, polyphenol, polysaccharides, polyketides, steroids, terpenoids and dietary fibers that showed numerous pharmacological activities. The exploration of mushroom biodiversity in sub-tropical semi-evergreen Indian forest ecosystems especially in Mizoram state is of utmost importance as this region is still unexplored with regard to mushroom diversity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for DBT sponsored NER-Twinning project (No. BT/320/NE/TBP/2012). We gratefully acknowledge Chief Wildlife Warden, Environment and Forest Department, Government of Mizoram, India. We are grateful for Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for establishing DBT-BIF centre and DBT-State Biotech Hub in the Department of Biotechnology, Mizoram University.